History was made in Leicester this afternoon – and for once, it was not Luke Littler authoring the script. This particular chapter of darts brilliance belonged to a man who embodies an extraordinary blend of PDC longevity and sustained excellence – James Wade.
Today’s opening-round victory over Lukas Wenig secured a remarkable milestone for The Machine, as he became the first arrow-smith to reach 1000 Players Championship match wins. An achievement of immense magnitude, it is a feat that demands unwavering consistency, elite-level performance, and enduring relevance at the very highest tier of the sport – qualities that define Wade with almost poetic precision.
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Many of the Aldershot ace’s contemporaries believe this current iteration of James Wade may well be the finest of his illustrious career. That sentiment speaks volumes when one considers the depth and distinction of his darting résumé, and the era in which it all began. Unfortunately, win number 1001 will have to wait, as Cristo Reyes halted the left-hander’s progress in round two.
If there were an award for the highest average of the day, it would undoubtedly belong to Keane Barry, who produced a scintillating 109.43 to dispatch the Polish Eagle, Krzysztof Ratajski, in the opening round. Clearly buoyed by that performance, the Irishman went on to equal his best-ever Players Championship run, reaching the semi-finals before narrowly losing to Alan Soutar in a tense last-leg decider.
Green Shoots of Recovery For Darts Icons
Speaking of decorated figures, two former World Champions who have endured a rather turbulent start to the season departed the Mattioli Arena with a degree of quiet satisfaction. Prior to today, Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld had registered just a solitary win apiece in their 2026 Players Championship campaigns. Therefore, for Snakebite to reach the quarter-finals, and Barney to advance to the last 16, represents both relief and a modest resurgence.
However, for one former PDC major champion, Dimitri Van den Bergh, the narrative is becoming increasingly concerning. The Belgian has not recorded a floor win since the curtain-raiser in Hildesheim, suffering first-round exits in the subsequent five events. That sequence extended to six in Leicester, where he fell to Dave Chisnall in the opening round. The looming threat of relegation is becoming ever more tangible, with the gap to safety now hovering just below £7,000, currently occupied by compatriot Kim Huybrechts.
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Elsewhere, several players enjoyed their deepest runs of the season thus far. Maik Kuivenhoven, Jeffrey Sparidaans, and Jermaine Wattimena, alongside debutants Charlie Manby and Alexander Merkx, joined Wright and van Barneveld in venturing into previously uncharted territory this campaign.
For Yorkshire’s Charlie Manby, his afternoon exploits carried him all the way to the quarter-finals before he was eventually halted by the tournament’s champion, Ryan Searle.
As for the eight call-up competitors, the standout performer was a recent Challenge Tour title winner at the same venue. The Welshman overcame Tommy Morris and Adam Paxton before succumbing 6-5 to Soutar in a closely contested board final.
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Images: PDC
